Why should Edwards drop?

[phillyliberal]

Why are all these political commentators saying that Edwards is a lost cause, and that he is wasting his time and effort by staying in the race. WTF? What about Fred Thompson? Rudy? Those guys have ran terrible campaigns and the results in the first primaries show that... they have done worse than Edwards in both states... Why so hard on Edwards? I think I still may vote for him in NJ Nov 5th.

[bdamomma]

1. Edwards has already said he is not going.

[phillyliberal]

4. yeah

but I am asking why everyone else BUT edwards on tv feels he is done and should leave.

I hate this system- it isnt right that less than a 1million people decide who goes and doesnt go on. Look at Biden... it just isnt right, and representative of this country.

[ORDem]

8. Candidates always say that

right up to the day they drop out. I don't think Edwards will drop out, mind you. I appreciate him, except to the extent (which is unknown) that he splits the so-called change vote and thus gives Hillary an easy path to the nomination.

[LynzM]

2. Because he is a threat to the establishment.

Check Helderheid's "I'm baffled" post in GD. You'll see that the media is systematically downplaying/ignoring Edwards. He is the only candidate seriously talking anti-corporate action and rhetoric, and that threatens the HUGE media conglomerates who run most of this country's "media." If he were to win, it'd be bad for them.

Please do vote for Edwards, if you're inclined. I plan to vote for him here in CT.

[redqueen]

7. Spot on. (nt)

[GreenArrow]

16. no, it's not

and as a former Kucitizen, you should know that.

[redqueen]

17. How is it not?

It's doing the same thing to Kucinich...

:shrug:

[GreenArrow]

19. it's not because the other poster

described Edwards as "the only one". He isn't. And while Edwards might not be getting as much media play as O'Clinton, I doubt we'll be seeing Kucinich on the cover of Newsweek any time soon. And when was the last time DK was on "This Week", (Edwards has been on there the last couple of weeks, I think) or "Meet the Press"? I don't watch those shows, but I haven't heard it mentioned that DK was on either of them. He was on Bill Moyers recently, for whatever that's worth.

Sorry, just getting a little frustrated with recent posts claiming Edwards as the only one this, or the only one that, when he isn't.

[redqueen]

20. I see... I thought that might be it... and yes, you're right.

I was a lot more sensitive to it when I was actively supporting Kucinich. When I think of how many times I've corrected people about that wording... from 2003 till the present day... *sigh*

[GreenArrow]

29. Hey! Don't forget about the little guy from Cleveland!

He may not win, but to quote Randle P. McMurphy, "goddamnit, at least he tries."

[bdamomma]

13. the corporate goons do not like him, he is a threat to them.

[SteppingRazor]

3. Yeah, but the GOP race is a lot more convoluted.

Admittedly, Fred Thompson should have dropped by now. But Rudy's holding out for Florida, and assuming that previous states will split between other candidates.

As to why Edwards should drop ... well, that depends on your perspective. What's the second-choice candidate of most Edwards supporters?

[bpeale]

22. i don't have a 2nd choice. Edwards is my candidate. period.

[SteppingRazor]

23. OK. My point, though...

is that, should Edwards drop out, most of his supporters will break for either Hillary or Obama. If one or the other gets the lion's share of that support, it could be the deciding factor in the election.

[bpeale]

24. i won't vote for either. the DLC is not going to choose my candidate.

MY CANDIDATE IS EDWARDS right through the election. i gave in the last time. i won't this time.

[SteppingRazor]

26. OK, but that's you. I don't think that's representative of most voters.

If Edwards drops out (I'm not saying "when," but "if"), most of his supporters will break for another candidate.

[Virginia Dare]

5. The MSM seems to be pushing hard against Edwards..

I don't think it's imaginary on our part. You're point is well taken, 9u11ani's showing so far is pathetic, but there's no talk of him dropping out.

Welcome to DU!!

[TwilightGardener]

6. It's unfair, as compared to the GOPer side--they're ALL pathetic over there.

However, I think Edwards is done after Super Tuesday, delegate-wise--if he doesn't have enough to be viable, he should drop out. Now, if by some turn of events he ends up with more than Obama after Super Tuesday, Obama should drop out and let his votes hopefully go to Edwards.

[Virginia Dare]

9. Calls for him to quit now are very premature...

and it's irresponsible on the media's part to be beating that drum solely for Edwards. But it's wholley expected from them unfortunately.

[TwilightGardener]

11. It's premature now, but I also don't think it should be a three-way

all the way to the convention, either. I would hope, if Obama does not see a realistic way to win, and somehow Hillary and Edwards were more viable, that he would bow out gracefully. I see that scenario as more likely to happen with Edwards, but we don't want to force our candidates to spend more money and time fighting (and weakening) each other until the summer if the outcome isn't going to change. It SHOULD all be over by Super Tuesday, but in case it isn't, I hope a sense of selflessness and pragmatism prevails.

[Freddie Stubbs]

10. He should not. He should stay in and continue to split the anti-Hillary vote

[aquart]

12. Pundits keep trying to tell us how to vote and who to run.

Keep ignoring their ignorant asses.

[redqueen]

18. It's amazing that anyone listens to those bloviating whores anymore...

really!

[Clarkansas]

14. Many people think Thompson should drop out. People are hard on Edwards because

he has no strategy for winning from here on out. He banked it all on Iowa and lost. Rudy at least has some dumb idea of focusing on all the later states. He knew he was going to lose Iowa. Edwards tried to win and failed.

[AngryAmish]

15. Because he is going nowhere and wasting money.

[eeyore]

21. So that we don't end up losing the general with HRC as our candidate

Edwards will not win. Nothing is clearer at this moment than that, and he is in it to provide a voice for his cause, which is quite honorable. However, it is also quite clear that most of the people voting for him would likely switch over to Obama were he not in the race. He speaks of being against the status quo, which is also quite honorable and something I agree with him about. But if he does not get out, the status quo has a much easier time beating her newcomer challengers.

If Edwards stays in we will likely end up with HRC as our candidate, and that will be an unseen rallying cry for Republican turnout. I know many Republicans/Indpendents that absolutely despise her, mainly because they think Bill is slimy, and thus have no respect for her. It's not fair, but it's absolutely the truth. These same people have told me, unsolicited, how inspired they are by Obama.

It's just the truth.

[youthere]

25. Of course he shouldn't drop. Let the final vote be cast and counted.

Fuck the media and support your candidate. It ain't over till it's over.

[uconnyc]

27. same reason Edwards' supporters felt that Clark should drop out in 2004

same reason Edwards' supporters felt that Clark should drop out in 2004 - cause he does not have a realistic chance of winning the election anymore and potentially splits the vote.

FYI - I am a fervent Edwards supporter (2004 & 2008), but will now vote for Obama as I feel he gives us the best chance to defeat the GOP in November compared to Hillary.

[rcsl1998]

28. In A Brokered Convention...

...Edwards could be the most powerful person at the convention - Or he may catch fire and win (though it's an uphill battle)...

[ileus]

30. Because he's missing out on all the Katrina suits.

[TheWebHead]

31. there isn't going to be a brokered convention

That doesn't happen anymore, and it sure isn't going to happen as some method to carry all edwards voters over to obama. That's just too poisonous, none of the candidates would allow it to happen. No matter what people try to say to will Edwards to continue only to serve as a spoiler, this alternate reality that somehow at the convention if Hillary is leading in delegates the Democratic machine would allow pooling of Obama and Edwards is pure fantasy.

I'll say it again, it pisses people off but a vote for Edwards is a vote for Clinton. We finally began to hear that a bit on Hardball today. It is time for a reality check. Edwards can either stay in and hope for a Obama or Clinton implosion, or he can avoid the appearance of selfishness and recognize the position he's putting voters in who largely do not like Clinton as their second choice amongst the top three and end his campaign.

[jackson_dem]

32. He shouldn't. Screw whining Obamites, the media, and pundits

[karynnj]

33. The media answer - FWIW

The Republican race is still wide open because the results differ widely in the 2 states, creating a situation where some lower in teh pack could still end up the winner. On the Democratic side, they are saing the results are HRC and Obama. (Yes, I know who was second in Iowa - SSSSSSSH! don't tell anyone.)

I think it would be silly for him to drop out now - Feb 5th is just 4 weeks away. I doubt both HRC and Obama will implode, but who knows?

[Didereaux]

34. As long as he has the funds, Edwards absolutely should not drop out. PERIOD!